Clothesline clamp



Sept. 2, 1958 E. z` BuKowsKl CLOTHESLINE CLAMP Filed Sept. 9, 1955INVENToR. 501421,00 Z. BUKOWJ'K/ United States Patent O 2,849,772AcLoTHEsLINE CLAMP I V y y j Edward Z. Bukowski, Wallingford, Coun.

Application September-9, 1955, Serial No.1533,389 yt Claims.V (ci.524.4126) This invention relates to clampingvdevices and moreparticularly to a clamp for affl'oopat ,the end of`a-.single line, o'rfor detachably holding a vpair of lines together.

One object of this invention is to provide a clamping means of the abovenature by means of which the length of the line may be quickly andeasily adjusted.

A further object is to provide a device of the above nature, which willbe simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, easy to installand manipulate, compact, ornamental in appearance and very eicient anddurable m use.

With these and other objects in view, there has been illustrated on theaccompanying drawing one form in which the invention may conveniently beembodied in practice.

In the drawing,

Fig. 1 represents a side view of one form of clamping device embodyingthe present invention when used to form a loop at the end of a line.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the clamping device on an enlarged scale,illustrating an initial step in the attachment of the device to a line.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 illustrating the parts inline-gripping position.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of one of the two slidable members forming theclamping device.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the other slidable member.

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view, taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view, taken on the line 7-7 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view, taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view, taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 5.

Referring now to the drawing, in which like reference numerals denotecorresponding parts throughout the several views, the numeral 10indicates generally a line clamp embodying the present invention,comprising a pair of rectangular U-shaped mating slidable block members11 and 12, which may be made of Wood, metal, plastic or other material.These block members include horizontally extending base web portions 11aand 12a respectively, and two pairs of upstanding generally parallellongitudinal spaced-apart ribs 11b, 11e` and 12b, 12e` respectively. Theinside faces of each of the ribs 11b and 12b adjacent their respectivewebs 11a and 12a are provided with undercut concave channels 13 and 14,of semi-circular cross-section, which are intended to receive portionsof a rope or line 15 which is to be clamped therebetween. The innerfaces 18, 19 of the ribs 11C and 12c are beveled to prevent the blocks11, 12 from separating during use, and are also slightly inclined withrespect to said ribs so as to provide a wedging action when the twomembers 11 and 12 are in operative engagement with each other, as shownin Figs. 2 and 3. The angular inclinations of the wedge faces 18 and 19are 2,849,772 e Patented Sept.2, `1958 ice,

, 2 v reversed with respect to each other, as shown by..Fig s. 4 and '5.The outer vertical faces 4of ,the ribs 11 c and 12e are each providedwith a plurality of vertically/,ferrt'ending zig zag serrations 16 and17 respectively, which serrations are preferably oriented in asaw-tootharrangef' ment having a onefwayy biteY This bite becomeseective when gripping the line 15 to urge movement of the respectiveblockvmembers 11 and l12 in adirection such Ias -to increase the wedging.action of thefaces'l'S Operation y', In operation, the block members4A1l Ianfd'lZ will iirst be placed in engagement with each othertsolthatvtheir webbed sections 11a `and 12a Arespectively are outwardlydisposed, and with the 4ribbed section121C''of bleek '11 -ree'eivedbetween the-ribs 12b-and I126erb'loclclz. vith-e respective wedge faces`18 and' r1.9 :will thus lie ini slidable v wedging engagement with eachother prior to the inser-g moved longitudinally with respect to eachother, vcausing the serrations 16 and 17 to move increasingly closer tothe channels 14 and 13 and thereby to exert a biting action on the line15, as indicated in Fig. 4.

In the embodiment of the invention herein shown, the

clamping device 10 has been used to form a loop at the end of a singleline 15, which as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, extends upwardly above theclamping device. v The lefthand portion of the line 15 will be connectedto a point of attachment, not shown. Under these conditions, it will beobvious that the effect of any increase in the tension in the left handportion of the rope 15 will tend to urge the block 12 downwardly withrespect to the block 11, due to the fact that the serrations 17 arepartially embedded in biting engagement with the rope 15.

It should also be understood that instead of forming a loop at the endof a single line as herein disclosed, the device 10 may, if desired, beused to effect a splice between two separate lines. In that case, asimilar wedging action will be produced if the end ofone line weredisposed in the channel 13 and the end of the other line were disposedin the channel 14. The tension exerted in the respective lines, will ofcourse be exerted in opposing directions so as to increase the relativewedging action of the two block members 11 and 12.

While there has been disclosed in this specification, one form in whichthe invention may be embodied, it is to be understood that this form isshown for the purpose of illustration only and that the invention is notlimited to the specilic disclosure, but may be modified and embodied invarious other equivalent forms without departing from its spirit. Inshort, the invention includes all the modications and embodiments comingwithin the y ment with a length of line, an interiorly facingchannelextending parallel to and spaced from said -serrated face, and ahorizontal inclined wedging face disposed between said serrated face andsaid channel.

2. The invention as defined in claim l, in which the inclination of thewedging face of one block member is oppositely disposed with respect tothe inclination of the wedging face of said other block member.

serrated faces comprise a plurality of transversely disposed saw toothindentations.

4. In a line clamp, the combination including a pair of elongatedmemberseach of which comprise a horizontally disposed web section provided witha pair of spaced generally parallel upstanding ribs, one of saidribsbeing providedalong its inner yside with a concave channel to receive aline` to be gripped, the other rof said ribs having serrationsvextending along its outer side-fory grippingengagement -with a line,the inner side of said last mentioned rib being inclined horizontallywith respect to said channel, whereby relative longitudinal slidablemovement between said members will tend to in*- crease the grippingengagement between the serrations on one of saidmembers and a linedisposed in the channely of the other ofV said members.

' ",5. Ina line clamp, the combination comprising a pair of juxtaposedrelatively slidable U-shaped block members, each-,ofsaid members havingan outer at web provided with an upstanding straight rib on one sideedge,

the opposite edge of each web being provided with an upstanding ribhaving an inwardly inclined wedge face on its inner side and a serratedouter face, whereby relative slidable movement between said blockmembers will provide a clamping engagement upon a line disposed betweensaid straight ribs and the serrated faces of said block members,respectively.

6. The invention as defined in claim 5, in which said inclined wedge,faces are provided with undercut bevels to prevent separation of saidblocks when the line is in place.

v References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS GreattBritain Dec. 9, 1947

